JPH03184064A - Image forming device with covring and folding function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a sleet having different size from being mixed by providing a folding function automatically selecting means automatically selecting a folding mode when a mixed mode is designated and a covering function is selected with a covering function selecting means. CONSTITUTION:A main body control part 60 is conectted to an operation panel 61 disposed on the upper edge plane of a copying machine, a paper size detecting sensor 63, a paper holding unit 1, and other input/output parts. When the mixed mode is designated and the covering function is selected, the folding mode is forcedly setted. Thus, even when an operator does not set the folding mode, a long size paper is two-folded or Z-folded into a half size and all the sheets are sized to the same, whereby covering can be attained with one kind of a covering sheet.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention has a covering function that allows a cover sheet to be ejected between regular sheets ejected to a paper ejecting section, and a function that folds the ejected sheet into a predetermined size. The present invention relates to a covering ring having a folding function and an image forming apparatus with a folding function.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional copying machines are known to have a covering function. This copying machine with a covering function is capable of feeding cover sheets of a different color or size from regular sheets for each predetermined number of sheets specified by a key on a preparatory operation panel.

This makes it possible to provide cover sheets on the back and front sides of a series of copy sheets.

On the other hand, in conventional copying machines, a folding unit (paper holding unit) is installed on the output side of the copying machine body, and the paper ejected from the copying machine body is folded in half or Z-folded. There is also a device that allows the paper to be removed and ejected to an ejection tray.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in a copying machine, originals having the same width size but different lengths may be mixed and copied. In conventional copying machines with a covering function, the cover paper is usually placed in a bypass paper feed section. This bypass paper feed section is not equipped with a sensor for size detection, so if documents are mixed as described above, the appropriate size cover paper will be automatically selected and covered. It cannot be done.

Therefore, it is conceivable to store the cover paper in a paper feed cassette whose size can be detected. However, in this case, with conventional devices, for example, when A3 and A4 size documents are mixed, A3 size is required as the back cover paper and A4 size is required as the front size paper. be. Therefore, in this case too,
There is a problem in that the operator must set the required cover paper each time.

In this way, covering cannot be performed automatically in the mixed loading mode.

The object of this invention is to provide a cover that allows covering even in mixed loading mode, and that can prevent sheets of different sizes from being mixed up even if you forget to specify the fold in mixed loading mode and covering mode. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with ring and folding functions.

[Means to solve the problem]

An image forming apparatus with a covering and folding function according to the present invention has a covering function that allows a cover sheet to be ejected between regular sheets ejected to a paper ejecting section, and a folding function that folds the ejected sheet into a predetermined size. It has °ζ. The apparatus includes a mixed loading mode designation means, a covering function selection means, and a folding function automatic selection means.

The mixed loading mode specifying means is for specifying whether originals of two different sizes are mixed, and the covering function selection means is for selecting the covering function. It is. Further, the automatic folding function selection means automatically selects a folding mode when the mixed loading mode is specified by the mixed loading mode specifying means and the covering function is selected by the covering function selection means. It is.

[Effect]

In this invention, by selecting the cover-ring function, a cover sheet is inserted between regular sheets. When the mixed loading mode is designated and the covering function is selected, the folding mode is forcibly set.

Therefore, even if the operator does not set the folding mode, long size paper can be folded in half or Z-folded to half size, all of them are the same size, and covered with one type of cover sheet. becomes possible.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as DF) 11, which also serves as a document holder, is provided at the top of a copying machine 10. On the right side of the copying machine 10, a bypass paper feed section 12 and paper feed cassette cases 13 and 14 are arranged in order from the top. Further below, a large paper feed cassette case 16 is arranged. In addition, in the case of this example,
Bypass paper feed section 12 and upper paper feed cassette case 13
Cover papers of different sizes are stored in each. The bypass paper feed section 12 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting the size of the placed cover paper. A paper holding unit 1 and a stable unit 2 are attached to the left side of the copying machine 10. Each of these units) 1.2 will be described later.

A photosensitive drum 17 is arranged approximately at the center inside the copying machine 10 . Around the photosensitive drum 17, a charging device 18, a developing device 19, a transfer device 20, and a paper separating device 21 are installed.
and cleaning device 22 are arranged in this order. Furthermore, an exposure device 23 is arranged in the upper space of the copying machine 10. Furthermore, the bypass paper feed section 12 etc. and the transfer device 20
A paper feed conveyance path 24 is provided between the two. A paper discharge transport device 25 and a fixing device 26 are disposed in this order on the downstream side of the transfer device 20 in the paper transport direction. A branch 2 is provided between the fixing device 26 and the paper holding unit 1.
7 is arranged, and above the branch 27 a reversing device 28 is arranged. The branch 27 connects the fixing device 26 to the paper holding unit (1) in a first position S (position shown).
and a posture in communication with the reversing device 28. In addition, the branch 27 and the discharge roller 29
A discharge switch 52 for detecting that the paper has been discharged is provided between the paper and the paper.

An intermediate tray 30 is arranged in the lower space of the copying machine IO. A paper conveyance path 31 is arranged between the left end of the intermediate tray 30 and the branch 27. Intermediate tray 3
A paper conveyance path 32 is arranged between the right end portion of 0 and the paper feed conveyance path 24 . The intermediate tray 30 includes a paper table 33 on which paper is placed, a paper feed roller 34 arranged at the centroid side end of the paper table 33, and a feed roller 35 arranged at the center of the paper table 33. have. A presser roller 36 is arranged above the feed roller 35 to press the paper placed on the paper tray 33 from above.

The DFII has a document in the center of the device! ! It has a document placement section 41 on which the document is placed. A feeding roller 42 for feeding the original is provided at the centroid side end of the original placing section 41. Furthermore, a paper feed roller 44 and a paper feed path 45 continuous with the paper feed roller 44 are provided at the right end of the housing 43 constituting the DFII. A contact glass 47 that is continuous with the paper feed path 45 is provided below the document placement section 41.
A conveyor belt 46 is arranged opposite to the conveyor belt 46 . moreover,
A document υ1 output path 48 is provided at the front end of the housing 43 for discharging the document from the transport heald 46 to the document placement section 4I serving as a document discharging section. Further, a document reversing path 48 is arranged between the downstream end of the transport heald 46 and the downstream end of the document ejection path 48, which allows the document to be reversed when a double-sided document is used. Then, the paper can be fed onto the contact glass 47 again.

A sensor 51 for detecting the presence or absence of a document is provided at the right end of the document placement section 41, and a document size sensor 53 for detecting the size of the document is provided in the middle of the paper feed path 45. It is located.

The paper hold unit 1 is a unit that can fold a copied sheet in half or Z-fold, and includes mechanisms such as a folding/non-folding switching lever 3 and a folding roller 4.

The stable unit 2 is a unit for performing a stable function, and in this unit, copied sheets can be bound by the stable function. The staple unit 2 includes a staple/stag switching lever 5 for switching between binding or simply ejecting sheets to be ejected, a staple storage mechanism 6, a stable drop lever 7, a stable tray 8, and a stacker tray 9. etc. are provided.

As shown in Figure 2, this copying machine has a CPU, RAM,
It has a main body control section 60 consisting of a microcomputer equipped with a ROM and the like. The main body control section 60 includes an operation panel 61 disposed on the upper end surface of the copying machine, a paper size detection sensor 63 for detecting the paper size of the bypass paper feed section 12 and the size of each paper feed cassette, and a paper size detection sensor 63 shown in FIG. The discharge switch 52 and other input sections are connected. The main body control section 60 also includes a paper feed drive section 64 that drives paper feed rollers, etc., an image forming section drive section 65 that includes an optical system drive section, etc., and a paper holder shown in FIG. The unit 1 and the staple unit 2 are connected to other output sections.

The DFII also includes a CP, similar to the main body control unit 60.
The DF control unit 66 includes a microcomputer equipped with U, RAM, ROM, and the like.

The DF control section 66 and the main body control section 60 are connected,
The DF control unit 66 includes the document presence/absence detection switch 51 and document size detection sensor 53 shown in FIG. The parts are connected.

Next, the operation will be explained according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E.

When the main switch of the copying machine is turned on, initial settings such as setting the number of copies to one are performed in step Sl in FIG. 3A. Note that in this initial setting, APS
The mode is set and each paper size data is read. The APS mode is a mode in which paper is automatically selected.

Next, in steps 52 to S7, it is determined which key on the operation panel has been pressed.

Mode setting keys for setting various operation modes are arranged on the operation panel.

For example, if a key for executing the covering function is pressed, the process moves from step S3 to step S8. In steps 38 to S19, processing for setting various covering modes is performed.

That is, in step S8, it is determined whether the flag CF exceeds "4". This flag CF is used to determine which covering mode is to be set. If the CF exceeds "4", the process moves to step S9, and this CF is set to "O". Moreover, if CF is "4" or less, the process moves to step SIO and the value of CF is incremented. Next, step 3
In steps 11 to 314, the value of CF is determined.

If CF is rl, the process moves to step S15, and the operation mode is set to FC+BN mode (described later). Also,
If the CF is "2", the process moves to step S16 and the FC
mode, and if CF is "3", step 31
7 and set to FN to BN mode, CF is "4"
In this case, the process moves to step 318 and the FN mode is set. Further, if CF is r□, step S19
, and covering mode is turned off. Note that each mode has the following contents.

FC+BN: There is cover paper on both the front and back sides, and copy processing is performed on the front cover paper.

Copy processing is performed on front cover paper without FCC back cover paper or back cover paper.

FN-1-BN: Cover paper is present on both the front and back sides, and copy processing is not performed on either side.

FN: Front cover paper is present, back cover paper is not present, and copy processing is not performed on the front cover paper.

In this way, by pressing the key for selecting the covering mode several times, you can select various modes (4 types R in this case) as the covering mode, or cancel the covering mode (off). can do.

If the key for executing the folding mode function is pressed, the process moves from step S4 to step S20.

In step S20, it is determined whether or not the folding mode has already been set. If the folding mode has been set, the folding mode is turned off in step S21, and if the folding mode has not been set, step 322 to set the folding mode.

If the key for executing the stapling function is pressed, the process moves from step S5 to step S23. In step 323, it is determined whether the staple mode has already been set, and if it has already been set, the process moves to step S24 to turn off the stable mode, and if it has not been set, it is determined in step S25. to set stable mode.

Also, if documents of the same width direction but different length sizes, such as A4 landscape size and A3 size, are mixed, it is necessary to set the auto-select run mode for DFII. . This is a mode in which the size of the original is detected each time the original is supplied. When the key for setting this DF auto selection mode (hereinafter referred to as mixed loading mode) is pressed, the process moves from step S6 to step 326. In step 326, it is determined whether the mixed loading mode has already been set, and if it has been set, the mode is turned off in step S27, and if it has not been set, the mixed loading mode is set in step 328. .

Further, if a key other than the one described above is pressed, processing corresponding to the pressed key is performed in step S7, and the process returns to step S2.

When the moxibustion clinic Idanfuqiu print key is pressed, the process moves from step S2 to step S30 in FIG. 3B. First, step S
DFII manuscript at 30! ! It is determined whether there is a document on the mounting table 2 or not. This determination is made by turning on and off the document presence/absence detection switch 51. Here, if no original is placed on the original placing table 42, the process moves to step S31, other processing is performed, and the process returns to step S2. here,
It is assumed that 3 or more original documents are placed. If there is a document on the DFII, the process moves to step S32, and the paper feed roller 44 and conveyance heald 46 are driven to set the document at a predetermined position on the contact glass 47.

Next, in step 333, it is determined whether the mode that requires back cover paper is the Zunawara FC+BN mode or the FN+BN mode. If the mode is set to require back cover paper, the process moves to step S34, executes the document detection first subroutine, and sets the size of the back cover paper. mode, that is, FC mode, FN mode, or non-covering mode, the process moves from step S33 to step S36, and a second document detection subroutine is executed.

The document detection first subroutine in step S34 will be explained using FIG. 3C.

First, in step Nl, document size data is read.

Then, based on this data, settings are made as to which paper cassette the plain paper is to be fed from.

Next, in step N2, it is determined whether or not the APS mode is set, and in step N3, it is determined whether or not the folding mode is set.

Further, in step N4, it is determined whether the mode is FC mode, in step N5, it is determined whether the mode is FN+-BN mode or FN mode, and in step N6, it is determined whether the mode is FC1-BN mode. Further, in step N7, it is determined whether or not it is the final document, and in step N8, it is determined whether or not it is the mixed loading mode.

Assume that the covering and folding functions are set in the APS mode, and the size of the back cover paper is set. In this case, from step N2 to step N
After passing through each step of 8, the process proceeds to step N9. Steps N9 to Nil determine whether the document size data is A3 size or B4 size.
It is determined whether the size is 1×17''. If the document size is A3 size, the process moves to step N12, and half size A4 size is set as size data. Moreover, in the case of B4 size, the process moves to step N13 and is set to half size, B5 size. Also, 1
If the size is 1×17”, proceed to step N14,
It is set to half the size, 11 x 8 1/2". Then, the process moves to step N15.

Note that in the case of mode setting such that steps N12 to N14 are not passed, the size data read in step N1 is maintained as is.

In step N15, the size data and the bypass paper feed section 1 are
It is determined whether the sizes of the cover sheets set in No. 2 are the same. Further, in step N16, it is determined whether the size data and the cover sheet set in the upper sheet cassette 13 are the same. If there is no cover paper of the same size as the size data in the bypass paper feed section 12 and the upper paper cassette 13, the process moves to step N17. In step N17, cover paper replenishment is displayed on the operation panel, and in step N1B, each mode is set to the initial state, and the process returns to step S2.

If the size data is the same size as the cover paper placed on the bypass paper feed section 12, the process moves to step N19, and the cover paper is set so as to be fed from the bypass paper feed section 12. Also, the size data is
If it is the same size as the cover paper stored in the paper feed cassette, the process moves to step N20, and the cover paper is set so that it is fed from the upper stage 13 of the paper feed cassette.

By setting the back cover paper in this document detection first subroutine, when the folding mode is selected, if the document size is long (A, 3, B4, 11 x 17'), each size Half size cover paper will be set. Therefore, it is possible to always select a cover sheet that is half the size of the long sheet, and it is possible to eliminate paper waste and shorten operation time.

The back cover paper set as described above is fed in step S35 in FIG. 3B, and the process proceeds to step S39 without copying, and is discharged in step S39.

The IJI-paper processing subroutine will be explained with reference to FIG. 3E'E. In step 01, it is determined whether or not paper has been ejected from the copying machine main body. This is determined by the ejection switch 52 shown in FIG. If the paper has been ejected from the ejection roller 29 on the main body side, the process moves to step 02. In step 02, it is determined whether the folding mode is set. If the folding mode is set, a folding operation is performed in step 03, and the process proceeds to step 04, where the paper is discharged. Further, if the folding mode is not set in step 02, the process proceeds to step 04 without performing step 03, and discharge is performed. Please note that the paper that has been ejected is A3. B4,1
In the case of 1×17” size, the two-folding operation is performed in step 03, but if the ejected paper is half the size, it is ejected as is.

Next, in step S40 of FIG. 3B, it is determined whether one cycle of copy processing has been completed for all documents. This is done by a recycle lever (not shown). If the process is completed, it is determined in step 56( ) whether front non-copy is performed, and if NO, the process moves to step 541. If YES is determined in step S60, the process moves to step 348. In step S41, it is determined whether or not the stapling mode is set, and if it is set, stapling processing is performed in step S42. If the stapling mode is not set, the process moves to step 354 without processing step S42. In step S54, it is determined whether or not the processing for the set number of copies has been completed, and if it has been completed, the process returns to step S2. If the process has not ended, the process returns to step S32.

L1 Self-grasping process In this example, it is assumed that a large number of documents have been sent, so after the back cover sheet is discharged, the process moves from step 340 to step S43. Step S4
In step 3, the next original is fed and set on the contact glass 47. In step S44, the contact glass 4
7- Determine whether or not the original set in H is the final original.

If it is the final manuscript, the process advances to step S46 and subsequent steps. Here, it is assumed that a large number of originals are placed, so at this point, the process moves from step S44 to step S45. In step S45, it is determined whether the mode is mixed loading mode. If the mixed loading mode is not set, the process moves to step S37, and if the mixed loading mode is set, the process moves to step S36.Step 3
In step 36, a second document detection subroutine, which will be described later, is executed. In step S37, plain paper of the size set in step S36 is fed.

Next, in step 338, a copy process is performed on the fed plain paper, and the process moves to step S39.

After step S39, the same paper ejection process as described above is performed.

Next, the second document detection subroutine will be explained according to FIG. 3D. In this subroutine, first, in step M1, document size data is read, and
Based on the size data, settings are made as to which paper cassette the plain paper is to be fed from. Next, in step M2, it is determined whether or not the mode is mixed loading mode, and in step M3, A
Determine whether the mode is PS mode. If the determination is No in each case, the process moves to step MIO. Further, if YES is determined in steps M2 and M3, the process moves to step M4. In step M4, it is determined whether the covering mode is set. If the covering mode is not set, the process moves to step M5 and it is determined whether the stapling mode is set. If neither the covering mode nor the stapling mode is set, the process moves to step MIO.

On the other hand, if either the covering mode or the stapling mode is set, the process moves to step M6. In steps N9 to M8, it is determined whether the document size data is A3 size, B4 size, and 11XI7°. If the document size is A3, B4, or 11x17", the process moves to step M9, where the folding mode is forcibly set, and the process moves to step MIO.
If the ifA size is not any of the above sizes, the process moves to step MIO without processing step S9.

In the STELLAR BU MIO-MI5, the cover paper is set in exactly the same manner as steps N15 to N20 of the document detection first subroutine.

By executing such a second document detection subroutine, the long size (A
3. The folding mode is always set for sheets of B4, 11X17'.

Therefore, even if folding mode is not selected when covering mode or stapling mode is selected in mixed loading mode, long size paper will be forcibly folded and the paper will be folded to a unified size. Covering,
Stapling processing can be performed.

Thereafter, the operations from step S36 to step S40 and from step S43 to step S45 are repeatedly executed until the final document is set on the contact glass 47.

”1jjLL82KatsuoIf the final manuscript is set on the contact glass 47, YES is determined in step S44, and step 3
46. In step 346, it is determined whether the front copy mode is set. If the front copy mode is not set, step S3
Return to step 6 and repeat the same operation as above. Then, the process moves from step S40 to step S41, performs the same operation as described above, and returns to step S2 or step S32.

If the front copy mode is set, the process moves from step S46 to step S47. Step S
At step 47, the original detection barrel t subroutine similar to that described above is executed. As a result, the front cover paper is set.

The setting of front cover paper will be explained using FIG. 3C.

When setting the front cover paper, in the mode in which copy processing of the front cover paper is performed, step N4 and step N6. N7
Since the process moves to step N15, the size data read in step N1 is maintained as is. On the other hand, in a mode in which copy processing is not performed on front cover paper, the process moves from step N5 to step N9. Then, in the same way as when setting the back cover paper, step N9 to step N
14, only in the case of long size (A3.B4.11X17゛), rewrite the size data to half the size,
The process moves to step N15. The subsequent processing is the same as that for the back cover paper.

By executing such document detection first subroutine, if the folding mode is selected and the mode does not perform copy processing on front cover paper, cover paper half the size of the long size is selected and copying is performed. When processing, select cover paper of the same size as the original. Therefore, the minimum necessary cover paper is selected, and as with the back cover paper, waste of cover paper can be eliminated.

Furthermore, the operating time can be shortened.

The front cover paper of the size set in step S47 is
Paper is fed in step 348. Next, in step S49, it is determined whether or not the mode is for copy processing on front cover paper. If the mode is for copy processing, copy processing is performed in step S50, and the process moves to step S51. If the mode is such that copy processing is not performed on front cover paper, the process moves from step S49 to step S51. In step S51, a paper discharge processing subroutine similar to that described above is executed, and the process moves to step S52.

In step S52, it is determined whether or not stable mode is set, and if it is set, step S5
At step 3, stapling processing is performed and the process moves to step 355. Further, if the stapling mode is not set, the process moves from step 352 to step S55. In step S55, it is determined whether or not the processing for the set number of copies has been completed, and if it has not been completed, the process returns to step 33'2 and the aforementioned processing is repeated. Once the set number of copies has been processed, the process returns to step S2.

Note that when covering mode is not selected,
Steps 336 to S45 are repeatedly executed through steps 332 and S33 in FIG. 3B, and when the copying process for the set number of copies is completed, the process returns from step 354 to step S2 to wait for the next process.

[Other Examples]

(a) In the above embodiment, the case where the copy magnification is 100% was explained, but when the copy magnification is other than 100%,
Step Nl of FIGS. 3C and 3D.

The size data read by Ml may be changed in accordance with the magnification ratio, and thereafter the size may be halved appropriately by the same process.

(b) In the above embodiment, the automatic document transport device includes:
Although the document circulation method has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to other methods.

(C) In the embodiments described above, the present invention was applied to a copying machine without a sorting function, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a copying machine having a sorting function.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the present invention, when the mixed loading mode is specified and the covering function is selected, the folding mode is automatically selected. At this time, all the sheets on which images have been formed are discharged in A4 size, and covering can be performed with an A4 size cover sheet or a cover sheet obtained by folding an A3 size, as in the conventional case, without any manual work by an operator.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a copying machine with covering and folding functions according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram thereof, and FIGS. 3A to 3E are diagrams showing control flowcharts thereof. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Paper hold unit, 2...Stable unit, 51...Original existence detection switch, 53.
・・Document size detection sensor, 60 ・・Main body control unit, 6
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Operation panel, 63... Paper size detection sensor, 66... OF control section, 67... DF drive section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus with a covering and folding function, which has a covering function that allows a cover sheet to be ejected between regular sheets that are ejected to a paper ejecting section, and a folding function that folds the ejected sheets into a predetermined size. , a mixed loading mode specifying means for specifying when two or more types of originals of different sizes are mixedly loaded, a covering function selecting means for selecting the covering function, and a mixed loading mode by the mixed loading mode specifying means. and a folding function automatic selection means for automatically selecting a folding mode when the covering function is specified and the covering function is selected by the covering function selection means. .